Stretchhood Machines and Shrinkhood machines pallet packaging are sharing only one commonality: the use of a tubular film to safeguard the load. However, they diverge significantly in their operational approach.
In the heat shrink system, a tubular film with shrink properties is applied to the load. Heat is then employed, typically through combustion burners, causing the film to shrink tightly around the load. This process consumes a substantial amount of energy for combustion and necessitates a larger quantity of film relative to the load&#;s dimensions and thickness.
The Stretchhood machine utilizes a tubular film that stretches to conform to the load without requiring heat. The film&#;s dimensions are slightly smaller than those of the load, allowing it to compress and secure the load as it is stretched over it. This eliminates the need for heat shrinkage and significantly reduces the amount of film used for protection. Consequently, the Stretchhood method can offer cost savings compared to the shrink hood method, as less energy and material are consumed overall. Additionally, the stretching process with the stretchhood is faster than shrinking with the shrink hood, saving time in the packaging process.
Finally, the stretchfilm machine &#; a flexible plastic film is wrapped around products or pallets to provide stability and protection to the load. It can be used manually or with a pallet wrapping machine. One advantage here is that the film can be layered more tightly where additional stability is needed &#; usually at the connection between the product and the pallet. In this way, material savings are also possible if less film is used where less stability is required. This method often results in a lower pallet throughput compared to the stretch hood machine.
You are welcome to bring pallets with your goods to our technology centre for testing purposes. There we have a stretchhood machine and various stretchfilm wrappers to find the optimal packaging solution for you. The pallets can then be checked for their stability so that no more transport damage and its resulting costs occurs in the future.